The UK-GBC report states that:

More than one home every minute will need to be refurbished in the UK between now and 2050

25 million existing homes will not meet the insulation standards required by mid-century

The UK needs to cut carbon emissions by 80% by this date

A third of those emissions come from heating draughty buildings

Existing homesMillions of existing buildings will need to be refurbished if the nation is to get anywhere near the carbon emissions targets

The report recommends: setting staged targets for refurbishing buildings; reintroducing the "zero-carbon" standard for buildings from 2020; recognising energy efficiency as a national infrastructure priority; setting long-term trajectories for ratcheting up home energy standards; and obliging commercial buildings to display the amount of energy they use.

Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive, UK Green Building Council said: “UK-GBC is uniquely placed to help the Government tackle some of its key challenges in close partnership and collaboration with the built environment industry.

“Through publishing this report, we are launching a new conversation with policy-makers in pursuit of a shared vision in which the places we live and work can support multiple economic, social and environmental priorities; ultimately: building places that work for everyone.”

So are we finally going to get the green housebuilding industry that has been promised for so long? Will we also see the son of Green Deal rise from the ashes?

Paul GrovesEditor, Specification magazine

A significant first step would be for the Government to actively show it is listening to the industry and that it understands the need for a proper two-way conversation and partnership approach that failed to materialise with Green Deal.